School 2.0 2025: Update!So much to say... let's get started
Good afternoon everyone,
It's been two weeks now, and we're just starting to mobilise against this ludicrous 'School 2.0' proposal. In this update we want to highlight some of the concerns and offer a few suggestions on people who need to be aware of community sentiment on this and why.
The company representing JH Northlakes, Three Plus, ran a limited number of community information sessions last Thursday. For those who were able to make one of the four options, on a week's notice, they were eye-opening. A variety of consultants were present, together with a representative of the Anglican Schools Commission. People were shown artists impressions and maps, with the opportunity to ask questions. There was no traffic data presented, limited habitat or flood maps and certainly no population data showing evidence of the need for a private school in North Lakes, let alone on this 'open space' land. There was, however the opportunity to give feedback - and whether you attended or not, we would encourage you to do this. You can either print the Three Plus form here or simply email ella@threeplus.com.au and have your say. It might be an idea to copy some of the other stakeholders below on your submission. Three Plus have promised to collate and pass on feedback, as long as it is in by 12th December.
The Save North Lakes Golf Course Group has already made a submission expressing concern about the limited opportunity for feedback plus traffic and planning concerns. You can view the SNLGC submission here.
Another group who needs to be aware of this is Council. Whilst it has certainly been overtaken by recent events, we want to stress that the 68-bay, driving range proposal with associated entertainment venue, operating till 10pm nightly etc is still before Council. On 14 November 2025 (two weeks before we discovered the new school proposal), the Developer issued a notice to ‘stop the current period’ for a period of 20 business days, until 12 December 2025. This effectively means the response to Council’s Information Request is now due on or before 19 December 2025. Note – this date is subject to change as the Developer has the ability to withdraw or extend the ‘stop the current period’ notice at any time.
In regard to the school proposal Council maintains, correctly, that the assessment of it sits solely with the Deputy Premier, who holds the relevant portfolio. Given the two matters are now going through quite 'independent' processes, there is the possibility that one or the other, or both could be approved in some form. No obligation on either party to take notice of the other under their process, but perhaps a point worth making to Council. It's certainly worth thinking about a supplementary submission to council@moretonbay.qld.gov.au and quoting DA/2025/3488. Should the community get unlucky on both these the prospects are diabolical!
Our new Federal Member, Emma Comer needs to encouraged to become active on our behalf too. At first glance one could be forgiven for thinking that there was little potential federal involvement in this, However, given that the Anglican Schools Commission representative at the Information Session last week said that the new school could be built with up to 80% federal funding, it certainly needs to come to her attention. To help you with this submission, we have included a great 'template' from a local resident which expresses dismay at the prospect of 80% federal funding for this project for something the community doesn't want, certainly not where it is being proposed.
Given that Emma is fairly new in the role, the 'template' also has a chronological history of this sorry saga. This may also be useful to share with any new neighbours/friends who could be wondering what all the fuss is about!
We are conscious that the above is a lot to take in, but the Deputy Premier certainly needs to be made aware of our position. As the person with responsibility for the Ministerial Infrastructure Process (MID) under which this is being progressed, there are several points we suggest to make to him. He should be well aware of Development Control Plans as one of the three in Queensland is in his electorate of Kawana Waters. The Springfield, North Lakes and Kawana Waters DCPs have all 'stood the test of time' and provided a reliable and robust planning framework for developers and residents to rely on for many years. SNLGC has not written to the Deputy Premier yet, as we understand the proposal is still some weeks away from coming to his attention. We will keep working on that, but if have time a quick email to him with your thoughts at deputy.premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au would be helpful.
We hope this note has been helpful. Please reach out to some or all of the people mentioned above. If you have friends or neighbours who are able to help, please encourage them to do so too. It's very important we speak loudly and clearly on this! We've come this far as a community - let's not give up yet!
Please let us know your thoughts at savenorthlakes@gmail.com . Encourage your friends/neighbours to join our mailing list.
